Ms. Lagarde was even more explicit, making it clear that governments had for too long relied on the supply of cheap cash from central banks that have been running ultra-loose monetary policy. “Monetary policy alone will not cut it,” she said. “It is necessary, it is recommended from our perspective, particularly in Europe and in Japan still, but it will not cut it on its own. “Clearly in the fiscal sphere as well as in the structural reforms sphere, more needs to be done, and it needs to accompany and eventually take the baton from the central bank governors.”

Tina, it would appear, is back. Forgotten Tina? The acronym for There Is No Alternative? Regularly cited by Margaret Thatcher? Thatcher? Oh, come on, it hasn't been that long since the Tories were in sole command of the UK. [ // history rhymes; Angela Merkel and her "Alternativlos." = There is No Alternative. ] George Osborne set out quite deliberately in a range of ways to suggest that there is no effective or realistic alternative to his approach. [...] It is aimed over their heads at the voters. Mr Osborne is seeking to suggest that there is a remorseless logic to his package, that only the ingrate or innumerate would oppose it.

// distortion to choice of students - prospective workforce = miss allocation of resources/assets (human capital). this is not consumer choice. this is a choice that will be with the rest of your life. &! Tens of thousands of students are relying on payday loans to cover their daily living costs, a survey suggests. - bbc.co.uk/news/education-33328374

Tony Dolphin, senior economist at the Institute for Public Policy and Research, warned that Osborne's planned cuts were "implausible". "Given the scale of cuts in the public sector, [the OBR] can only make its growth forecast add up by assuming that consumer demand is boosted by households taking on more debt - and at an unprecedented pace. "Extraordinarily, the OBR thinks that by 2019 the household sector will have a financial deficit twice as big as in 2007 and 2008 when the financial crisis hit. As result, the household debt-to-income ratio is forecast 2 rise beyond its pre-crisis peak 2 over 180%. "This is pretty implausible. If the next government tries 2 follow the deficit reduction path set out in the Autumn Statement, it can only succeed in the short-term because the household sector takes on debt @ a faster pace than it did before the financial crisis. [this warning was heeded some years ago alrdy that consumer&corp would have to take on debt to spend to keep GDP # up!!!]

1-Day Before: http://youtu.be/_6D_xVeoIXs "ECB faces crunch on deflation threat" +++ The ECB has cut its benchmark interest rate to 0.05%, and introduced new stimulus measures. The ECB had earlier cut its rate from 0.25% to 0.15% in June, and also became the first major central bank to introduce negative interest rates. It will also launch an asset purchase programme, which will buy debt products from banks. It is hoped this move will add liquidity to the financial system and revive lending. [...] "[A] last roll of the dice". "The ECB has now almost exhausted its ammunition for preventing the Eurozone sliding into a devastating deflationary, contractionary spiral," +++ Analysis: http://youtu.be/IErml4SmKmE "European banks – Work those ABS" +++ bit.ly/1A6pmLU - France and Friends: Merkel Increasingly Isolated on Austerity "Europe ... is threatened with lasting weak growth should the deficit rules continue to be strictly interpreted. [ BuBa demands higher wages, ECB fiscal stimulus ]."